“At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.”—Proverbs 23:32
When warning people against the sin of drunkenness, a commonly heard objection is that because Jesus’ first public miracle was to turn water into wine (at a wedding in Cana—John 2:1-11), this supposedly proves that Jesus permits drunkenness, and that it is not a sin. But even if the wine Jesus created had alcohol in it, this does not authorize drunkenness any more than God’s creation of human sexual organs authorizes sexual immorality (fornication & adultery, etc.)![1] Because, as John Chrysostom said, “it is not wine which makes drunkenness, but the evil purpose, & the using it beyond due measure” (NPNF, 1st Series, Vol. 14, p. 402).
Other things to consider in evaluating Jesus’ creation of wine, is that, in ancient times, people commonly mixed alcoholic wine with water to dilute the fermented wine, and possibly also to make the water tastier & safer to drink. Therefore, because the people at the wedding had the option to dilute the wine Jesus made, any drunkenness that may have resulted from them drinking it was due to their own choice; it was their own sin. The Scriptures call us to exercise self-control in all areas of life (Acts 24:25; 1 Cor 7:5, 9; Gal 5:23; 1 Tim 2:15; 2 Tim 3:3; 2 Pet 1:6; Also, see Gen 4:7). As we exert moral effort to control our impulses, God will cooperate with us and help us, but He will not do it all for us. He leaves us with a real part to play in life.
According to the Bible, drunkenness is not only unwise and unhealthy, it is deadly spiritual poison to the human soul. Unless such a sin is forsaken, it will cause a person to be condemned to hell. Consider the Scriptural evidence below to see what Jesus, and His apostles Peter & Paul had to say on this subject.
Jesus’ teaching concerning drunkenness:
Jesus clearly warned His disciples that intoxication or drunkenness was a behavior that would cause them to be condemned. Let us examine the context of what He is recorded as saying about the effects of methusko (to be drunken) or methe (intoxication/drunkenness), which by implication includes all drug use merely to get ‘high’ rather than for legitimate medicinal purposes. All pharmakeia (drugs or pharmaceuticals, translated as “sorcery” in Galatians 5:20) used for ‘recreational’ purposes or to ‘escape’ or ‘party’ or to manipulate people’s minds & moods (hence the close relationship to sorcery or witchcraft), rather than for legitimate medicinal purposes is deadly to the soul. Consider the words of Jesus given below.
Luke 12:45-46: “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” [the servants in this passage seem to refer to Christian servants or even Christian leaders]
Luke 21:34-36: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” [Jesus warns about spiritual unpreparedness]
Matt 24:48-51: “But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [similar to Luke 12:45-46]
The Apostle Peter’s teaching concerning drunkenness:
1 Peter 4:3-4: “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles–when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation [Gk. asōtía], speaking evil of you.”
So, Peter says drunkenness is one element of a “flood of dissipation.” The Greek word translated here as “dissipation” is asōtía (ref. #810 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance), which literally means “unsavedness.” It refers to what cannot be saved (i.e. waste; in this case, it is a waste of life). The word describes the character of a person living in such a way that they cannot be saved, unless of course, they repent & turn from their sinful behavior & begin to follow Jesus. The word figuratively refers to prodigality, profligacy, excess, debauchery, riot, dissipation, dissolution, wantonness, corruption, incorrigibleness, etc. In other words, asōtía refers to the spiritual wastefulness that results from such a lifestyle. The compound Greek word asōtía is formed from the negative prefix “A,” which means “without,” plus the Greek word “sṓzō,” which means “save.” This Greek word is found in the New Testament at Ephesians 5:18, Titus 1:6 & 1 Peter 4:4. It is found in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint/LXX) at Proverbs 28:7 and 2 Maccabees 6:4.
The Apostle Paul’s teaching concerning drunkenness:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery [Gk. pharmakeia], hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Ephesians 5:18: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation [Gk. asōtía]; but be filled with the Spirit,” (cf. Romans 13:13)
In Conclusion
Drunkenness is not a disease. It is a sinful habit that needs to be repented of! When the word “repent” is found in the New Testament, it almost always refers to a complete change in one’s way of life & the spiritual change implied in a sinner’s return to God. Repentance implies a change in behavior/action and not just a change of mind or a change in mental belief! The Holy Spirit will help you break free of sin. Jesus said, “unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
Important Footnote:
[1] See the context of 1 Cor 6:13 (i.e. 1 Cor 6:9-13)! The Corinthians were reasoning like pagans when they said, “Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods!” Paul reminded them that “God will destroy both it & them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” God’s creation of our stomach & food does not mean that He approves of gluttony, and God’s creation of human sexual organs does not mean that He authorizes every sort of sexual sin that is specifically condemned elsewhere in the Bible. Likewise, God’s creation of plants & the natural chemical processes that produce intoxicating substances does not mean He approves of drunkenness & drug abuse. Everything originally made by God for a good & legitimate purpose can be perverted by man so that it becomes sinful. God wants us to live for Him, not merely to pleasure ourselves, pleasing our “belly” (or what is below the belly). The “lawful things” Paul speaks of in 1 Cor 6:12 does not include the things he had just named in 1 Cor 6:9-10 (see above), including drunkenness! When the Corinthians reasoned that “All things are lawful for me!” Paul responds by saying “…but all things are not helpful.” And when the Corinthians again insisted “All things are lawful for me!” Paul responds by saying “…but I will not be brought under the power of any.”